Comparison

SMART eTickets vs Visit Marin County

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SMART eTickets

Purchase and use train tickets instantly on your phone with a debit or credit card. Register securely and buy single or round-trip tickets, with discounts for eligible passengers. Store, activate, and display tickets for easy travel.

Highlights
  • Instant ticket purchase
  • Debit/credit card payment
  • Discounted fares for youth, seniors, and disabled
  • Group ticket payment
  • Store multiple tickets
  • Activate tickets before boarding
  • Transfer tickets to new devices
Features
Read full description

The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) eTickets app allows you to purchase and use tickets instantly on your phone using a debit or credit card. Simply download the free app, register your e-mail address in our secure system and you're ready to ride. With the SMART Train Mobile Tickets app, you can: · Purchase one-way or round-trip tickets · Receive a discounted fare if you qualify as: Youth (5 -18), Senior (65 & Older) or a passenger with disabilities · Pay a single fare or multiple fares for a group of riders · Store multiple tickets on your phone for future use · Activate tickets · Register your debit/credit card in our secure system IMPORTANT REMINDERS: · You need an account to use mobile tickets. An account only requires an email & password · Once you purchase your ticket it will appear in your "ticket wallet" · Activate your ticket shortly before boarding the SMART Train · If you purchased multiple tickets remember to activate all of them. Tickets are displayed in order of activation. Swipe to advance to the next ticket · Be prepared to show your active ticket(s) to SMART personnel · Keep an eye on your battery level. You are held responsible for having a mobile phone in good working order and usable prior to boarding. If your mobile phone is inoperable you must use some other payment method for the journey · Mobile tickets do not need cell phone or WiFi services to be activated. However, you do need connectivity during the purchase of the ticket. · Mobile tickets are valid for 90 minutes after activation · Mobile tickets that have been purchased, but not activated, will expire after 30 days · Transfer credits are not available via the SMART mobile ticket app · If you lose or purchase a new device you can transfer any valid, unused tickets to a new device. SMART POLICY ON REFUNDS: · Generally, SMART does not issue refunds on mobile products · In the case of extenuating circumstances, customers can submit a refund request · Refund form can be found on: www.SonomaMarinTrain.org

About

Visit Marin County

Plan your trip to Marin County with integrated search, booking, and itinerary management. Discover local recommendations, real-time updates, and connect with other travelers.

Highlights
  • Flight, hotel, and car rental search
  • Itinerary management
  • Real-time travel updates
  • Integrated maps and navigation
  • Local recommendations
  • User reviews and ratings
  • Traveler community features
Features
Read full description

Search and Booking: Users of the MCVB app can search for flights, hotels, and rental cars based on their travel dates, preferences, and budget, allowing users to compare prices and choose the best deals. Itinerary Management: The MCVB app helps travellers manage their itineraries. Users can input their travel plans, including flight details, hotel reservations, and activities, all in one place. Some apps even send reminders for upcoming flights or check-in times. Real-Time Updates: The MCVB app can provide real-time notifications about flight status, gate changes, and delays. This feature helps travellers stay informed and adjust their plans accordingly. Maps and Navigation: Integrated maps with the MCVB app help users navigate new cities, find nearby attractions, restaurants, and services. Local Recommendations: The MCVB travel app includes curated lists of local attractions, dining options, and activities based on user preferences and reviews. This helps travellers discover hidden gems and popular spots. User Reviews and Ratings: The MCVB app features user-generated reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants, and attractions, helping travellers make informed decisions based on the experiences of others. Travel Community: The MCVB app has social features that allow users to connect with other travellers, share tips, and ask for advice. This can enhance the travel experience by fostering a sense of community. Customer Support: The MCVB app can provide customer support features, such as chatbots or live chat, to assist users with any issues or questions they may have during their visit to Marin County.

Screenshots

SMART eTickets4 screens
Visit Marin County4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Visit Marin County at 100% against SMART eTickets's 22%. Visit Marin County also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). SMART eTickets's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Visit Marin County holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SMART eTickets has 36 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of SMART eTickets's written reviews are positive against 100% of Visit Marin County's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SMART eTickets ships an update every 4 months, Visit Marin County fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SMART eTickets versus Visit Marin County: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSMART eTicketsVisit Marin County
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (36 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS14.0 — better15
Further details — not scored
Size71 MB202 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSonoma-Marin Area Rail TransitMarin Visitors Network

Customer experience

SMART eTickets

All ratings31 ratings
Positive48.4%
Neutral16.1%
Negative35.5%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral22.2%
Negative55.6%

Visit Marin County

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SMART eTickets

No in-app purchases

None

Visit Marin County

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SMART eTickets free?
SMART eTickets is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Visit Marin County free?
Visit Marin County is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SMART eTickets or Visit Marin County?
Visit Marin County is rated higher. SMART eTickets averages 3.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Visit Marin County averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do SMART eTickets or Visit Marin County have ads?
Neither SMART eTickets nor Visit Marin County shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SMART eTickets or Visit Marin County?
SMART eTickets ships an update every 4 months, and Visit Marin County fortnightly. Most recently, SMART eTickets was updated on November 6, 2026 and Visit Marin County on November 4, 2026.

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